

Sicily has seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Valle dei Templi, Necropolis of Pantalica, Mt Etna, and Palermo. Travelers to Sicily can arrive by plane, into either Catania or Palermo, or by boat from Naples, Genoa, or Tunisia, and Malta. It is the third-largest producer of Italian wine, after Veneto and Emilia Romagna. Sicily has a typical Mediterranean climate and fertile soil due to volcano eruptions, so it’s no surprise that the island is well known for its lemons, olives, artichokes, and wine. Today, visitors to the island can see evidence of these rulers as well as later ones: the Arabs, Normans, Aragons, and finally Italy under the reunification in the 19th century. The Roman Empire took over, then the Visigoths and Byzantines.

Their most important colony was Syracuse, which was the center of several political wars around the turn of the millennium. Human habitation in Sicily dates back to 12,000 BCE, and by 750 BCE the Greeks had moved in, absorbing the native tribes. The capital of Sicily is Palermo and its most prominent landmark is Mount Etna, the tallest active volcano in Europe. It’s the largest of Mediterranean islands and one of five autonomous Italian regions (out of 20 regions). Sicily is the island that mainland Italy’s boot shape looks like it’s kicking. Here are 10 beautiful and interesting Mediterranean islands to visit when the world reopens! Best Islands in the Mediterranean Sicily The Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, French, Ottomans, and others all held sway over the small sea between Europe and Africa. Many of the islands have been ruled over by more than three empires. If you Google islands in the Mediterranean, you will get pages and pages about the “most beautiful islands” or the “most gorgeous islands to visit.” Best Mediterranean IslandsĪnd while yes, many of these islands are simply stunning – with crystal clear waters, white-sand beaches, colorful harbor towns, and lush green hillsides – there are also islands worth visiting for the history and culture. Some are politically divided, while others are disputed. There are islands owned by Albania, Lebanon, Montenegro, and Syria. Of these, only 12 have a population over 100,000 and seven with a population over 200,000. There are nearly 200 islands in the Mediterranean Sea, from Aegina to Zut. This is a guide to the best Mediterranean islands to visit and put on your bucket list! The Mediterranean is brimming with stunning places to visit.
